Coffee making apparatus and method



I l l l I l S. LYONS COFFEE MAKING APPARATUS AND METHOD .Filed "Feb. 20, 1933 I Aug. 3, 1937.

INVENTOR Samuel Lyons [a flfi ATTORNI'EY Patented Aug. 3, 1937 srzs -Arr.

3 iDlaims.

The present invention relates to codes making apparatus and methods.

The present invention contemplates an improved method of making cofiee, according to p which grindings to be extracted are first subjected to steam at atmospheric pressure to soften.

the same and then the material to be extracted is subjected to boiling hot water and steam concurrently, so that the previously heated and moisld tened material is thoroughly extracted at a single pass of extracting liquid. After the extraction has been completed, steam is passed through the spent grindings to dry the same.

The present invention also contemplates a conlid venient form of apparatus for making infusions of coffee. The steam and boiling water are preferably made in a closed vessel or boiler having a steam pipe and a water pipe, the latter being submerged below the water level so that accumulated steam pressure in the boiler may force'the water out through the water pipe.

Accordingto the present invention the steam is carried through a steam passage of restricted capacity, either in the form of a constriction in the steam pipe or in the form of a non-closable valve. The steam alone, or steam and hot water, are conducted to the grindings chamber or container and the liquid is allowed to drain away from the grindings container into a receptacle. The present invention also contemplates a method of making cofiee and apparatus for coflee making, wherein the essence is completely extracted at a single pass of the water so that the highest quality of eofiee extract can bemade.

The method employed makes it possible to obtain the full strength of the cofiee and avoids extracting the bitter element which renders the extract less palatable. r v A further object of the invention is to pro- 40 vide coffee making apparatus adapted for making coifee according to the drip process or for making it according to the filtering process in which the coffee grindings are agitated.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

vThe accompanying drawing shows, for pur poses of illustrating the present invention, one of the many embodiments in which the invention may take form, it being understood that the drawing is illustrative of the invention rather than limiting the same.

In this drawing: Figure 1 is a. side elevational view of one form of apparatus adapted for carrying out the present method of coffee making; and

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figure l. I A

In the form of construction shown in the drawing the boiler is indicated at it. This boiler may hem the form of a metal or glass vessel pro- 5 vided with an electric heater ill and a removable screw cap or cover 52. A handle is indicated at it to facilitate. lifting or carrying the boiler.- A water pipe is indicated at it. The lower end it of this pipe is submerged below the liquid in the 10 boiler Ill. The steam pipe it passes out through the upper part of the boiler and opens into the steam space as indicated at H. This steam pipe carries a valve it, preferably of a non-closable type, so that at all times there lsan opening to 15 permit steam to escape.

The steam pipe is brazed or otherwise secured to a cap til having-a depending, internally threaded flange bl. The lower end W of the pipe it is threaded to receive a coupling ti and this coupling supports a short length of pipe 5t closed at the bottom and having perforations t5 adjacent the bottom. The discharge from the water pipe it is adapted to be received in a container tt. outwardly flanged as indicated at ti, and perfo- 25 rated as indicated at 53. A stand pipe tit is secured to the water container 56 surrounds the pipe 5t and extends nearly to the cover tit. it water conduit tit is detachably carried by the stamping forming the water chamber tit. Any {p}; suitable mode of attachment may be employed, such as a pin and bayonet slot. The lower end of this water conduit til is bulged, as indicated at ti. The upper part of this bulged portion is provided with holes lit and the lower part is as rounded or tapered as indicated at tt. The grindings are indicated at t ll. They rest on a perforated disc 65 adapted to be held in an inwardly drawn flange 6b of a receptacle tll. The

"upper end of this receptacle is threaded as indin cated at til to ht the threads ti; and tll may be made integral if desired, and may The parts tt take various shapes. A free screen 89 surrounds the water conduit th and is adapted to-rest on top of the grindings. 45

When one desires to make coflfee a measured amount of coffee grindings is placed in the cup and the parts assembled as shown. These grindings may be pulverized cofiee, steel out coffee, or

any other suitable form of ground or pulverized 5o coffee. The measured amount of water is placed in the boiler and the cover It secured in place.

The water is then brought to a boil. If onedesires to delay the actual making of the coffee, the valve I! may be turned to wide 6 the perforations II and holes 82 and the grindings, and will be absorbed by the grindings. so

that the grindings may swell and soften. The

steam fills the entire chamber but does not extract any coi'fee essence.

When it is desired to make the coffee extract, the rate of heating may be increased or the valve ll partially closed. This will cause the pressure of steam to build up in the boiler to such an extent as to force the boiling hot water through the pipe l4, and cause it to pass through the grindings and mix with the steam which continues to pass through the valve. This e of steam slows up the rate of flow of the water and fills the container with a mixture of water and steam so that the water does not pass through with a sudden rush. when the water comes over, it is received in a receptacle II and some of the water drains through the holes 58. In the event that the water comes over too fast for these holes to take care of it, it fills the container and overflows into the pipe 50 and conduit 6|, so that one has water and steam discharged underneath the coffee grindings. This agitates the grindings thoroughly and causes a very satisfactory extraction to be made. Owing to the previous softening of the coffee grindings by the steam, a single pass of water will take out all the coifee essence or extract. As soon as the water level of the boiler has been carried below the lower end of the pipe it, no more water will pass through, but steam will pass through both the pipe I and the valve ll, thereby thoroughly drying the grindings and forcing out the last drops of extract.

The extract may be received in a convenient 4o vessel, such as the pitcher shown at ill.

5 of! the heat from the boiler before the Continued heating of the boiler will cause steam to pass through and maintain an atmosphere of steam above the liquid in the pot II. so that it is kept hot. It is, of course, necessary to turn water has all been boiled away.

When one desires to make French drip coffee, the pipes l4 and ll may be removed and the water and steam will pass down from the coifee grindings from above without agitation.

It is obvious that the invention may be embodied in many forms and constructions within the scope of the claims, and I wish it to be understood that the particularjorm shown is but one of the many forms. Variousmodiflcations and changes being possible, I do not otherwise limit myself in any way with respect thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. Coffee making apparatus comprising a re-' ceptacle having a perforated bottom and adapted to receive coffee grindings, a cover for the top of the receptacle. a steam pipe and a water pipe extending downwardly through the cover, the steam pipe extending down nearly to the bottom of the receptacle and being perforated near its lower end. a water receiver in the upper part of the receptacle and having a perforated bottom to allow water from the water pipe to drain down onto the coifee grindings and a stand pipe about the steam pipe adapted to act as an overflow for water in the receptacle, and a water conduit below the water receiver and about the lower part of the steam pipe to receive water overflowing through the stand pipe, the water conduit having a perforated bottom to direct the water into the grindings from underneath.

2. A coffee making apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water conduit is removable and the lower part of the steam pipe is separable from the other part, whereby both steam and SAMUEL LYONS. 

